Independent line of sights for guns



May 24, 1932. J. c. KARNES INDEPENDENT LINE OF SIGHTS FOR GUNS,

Filed July 20 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 31400144 04; James E K arnas' May 24, 1932. J. c. KARNES INDEPENDENT LINE OF SIGHTS FOR GUNS Filed July 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvantoz 3 James E- Kar'nes Patented May 24, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JAMES C. KARNES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK INDEPENDENT LINE OF SIGHTS FOR GUNS Application filed July 20, 1925.

Serial No. 44,917.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invent on described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an independent line of sight system for guns in which the total firing angle is imparted to an indicating element without any motion being transmitted to or received from the gun cradle while at the same time the sighting telescope is deflected in azimuth an amount equal to the error caused by reason of elevating the gun on an inclined plane.

mounted for movement independently of the gun and carriage, which in addition to taking into consideration corrections for the varying transverse and longitudinal inclination of the gun also displaces an index from the datum or reference plane of the gun an amount proportionate to the total angle of elevation to be placed 011 the gun so that in elevating the gun a fixed mark on one of the trunnions will register with the index at the desired angle of elevation.

According to my invention, I provi de a s fi ieliae bleil ereeiififly In laying a gun, it is necessary to give the jhe gunand carriage in lootli tlie ho izontal axis of the gun barrel a position which takes into consideration, in addition to range, vertical deflection corrections to allow for angle of site and both vertical and lateral deflection corrections to allow for irregular contour of the ground on which the gun sets and subsidence of the carriage in both planes during firing.

Provisions for entering all of these corrections have heretofore been incorporated in independent mechanisms acting either entirely on the carriage as by transversely leveling the carriage about an axle pivot pin and securing longitudinal adjustment by employing rockers in the elevating gear, or one or the other of these adjustments have been effected by correspondingly displacing the sighting apparatus.

Designs wherein the carriage is susceptible of adjustment are generally complicated and cumbersome and the actuating mechanism for effecting required adjustments is subject to the firing stresses. The methods of adjusting the sighting apparatus include either a sight mounting having no relative movement with the cradle trunnion and adapted to be cross leveled about an axis which remains parallel to the axis of the gun as its elevation changes, or a sight mounting adapted to be shifted in the longitudinal plane an amount corresponding to angle of site or other longitudinal adjustments.

With a view to establishing an absolutely independent line of sight the present invention contemplates a sighting apparatus and longitud iiialplaiie andjgin tedtoagf rgely rota tiresgmiorttlravffig'janelerationindil The'fossleveling feature of the sight mounting functions according to established principles except that it is pivoted 0n the independently movable support instead of to the trunnions. \Vhen the sight mounting is shifted as a unit in the longitudinal plane the position of the elevation index is modified proportionate to angle of site and any other corrections which may be necessary by reason of subsidence of the carriage. To add to this movement, a movement corresponding to range elevation, account must be taken of the deflection in azimuth which results from elevating the gun on an inclined plane. This is accomplished by separately displacing the support through mechanism contained in the sight mounting so that as range elevation is placed on the elevation index the mounting is constrained to be revolved about a pivot thereby deflecting the sighting instrument in azimuth so that the error may be compensated for by simply relaying on the target.

Among the advantages secured by my improved arrangements are: the gun may be loaded without disturbing the sighting in strument or the setting thereof; the rockers may be dispensed with and the trails made narrower; the back lash is kept to a minimum by the elimination of firing stresses on the apparatus; the actuating mechanism does not follow the cradle in elevation; and the elevating and traversing hand" Wheels may be arranged to better advantage because of the availability of space in which to position them.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a gun equipped with a sight mounting constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in rear elevation of the sight mounting;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cradle trunnion and the apparatus;

Fig. 4; is a detail sectional view through the cross level joint; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view 011 the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and characters of reference:

I have shown at A the side plate of a gun carriage which is adapted to be rotated on a suitable base for the purpose of training the gun. A cradle B, which is adapted to reciprocally carry the usual gun barrel, is trunnioned in the carriage by means of trunnions DD for which the caps E are provided. The outer member D is squared into the inner member D and each includes an arm of an equilibrator bracket D".

A telescope or panoramic sight F is received in an adaptor F carried on a sight mounting G which is supported by a shaft 5, herein shown journaled in one of the trunnions, so that it is free to be rotated independently thereof. The support shaft 5 is formed with a collar 6 having an index 7, (Fig. 2) adapted to register with a reference mark 8, preferably provided on the trunnion and serving to indicate the position of the longitudinal axis of the gun. For convenience, the reference mark is formed on a separate member 9 threaded in the trunnion and forming a flange for confining a rocker 1O journaled on the reduced end of the trunnion.

The sight mount G consists of a casing 11, grooved to receive the sighting instrument adaptor and hubbed on a shaft 12 which is jointed to the support shaft 5 by a pin 13 which constitutes the axis of cross level of the mount and is established on the reference plane of the gun when the index 7 and reference mark 8 are in coincidence. A plunger 14- mounted in the shaft 12 presses against the pin 13 to set up friction and diminish back lash.

Journaled in the casing 11 is a shaft 15 having a range worm 16 which meshes with a worm wheel sector 12 formed on the shaft 12. The primary function of this worm gearing is to effect rotation of the support shaft 5 through the crosslevel joint 13 to displace the index 7 an amount proportionate to range as will be described more minutely hereinafter. For the immediate purpose, however, the range worm 16 serves to prevent relative movement of the two principle units of the sight mount, namely, the casing 11 and the shaft 12 so that its adjustment in the horizontal and longitudinal planes may be assured.

Taking up first the horizontal adjustment or cross leveling, the casing 11 carries a cross level worm 17 which gears with a worm wheel sector 18 pivotally retained in an arm 10 of the rocker 10 by means of a clamping ring 19. On operation of the hand wheel 17' the sight mount is movable about its axis 13 until the air bubble of the transverse spirit level 20 is centered between its register marks.

For the purpose of shifting the sight mount as an entity through an angle proportionate to angle of site and other longitudinal inclinations due to subsidence of the trails and carriage, there is provided a worm 21 mounted in a housing 22 attached to the side plate A of the carriage and adapted to angularly displace the rocker 10. To indicate when the sight mount is leveled longitudinally there is provided a spirit level- 23. In order to measure the angle of site when desired or necessary, this level is fixed on a worm wheel sector 2a movable through a worm shaft 25 provided with a knob 26 having an angle of site scale 27 readable against an index mark 28.

Inasmuch as the cross level worm 17 and the range worm 16 serve to lock the various parts of the mount G, any inclination of the rocker 10 will displace the index 7 from the reference 8 an amount proportionate to total longitudinal deflection corrections while the axis of cross level shaft 13 will have been moved in elevation to correspond to the angle of gun elevation. In the case of direct fire, the index 7 is shifted the proper amount by the mere act of centering the spirit level 23. However, in the case of indirect firing, it may be necessary according to the method employed to lay off the angle of site by moving the angle of site scale 27 until the required angle of site is registered against the index mark 28. Then, by displacing the sight mount G through the worm 21 until the air bubble of the level is centered, the index 7 is shifted the proper degree.

Referring now to the means for displacing the index 7 an amount proportionate to range elevation, the shaft 15 is provided with a range hand wheel 29 on which is a scale 30 graduated in single units, preferably mils, and adapted to register against the index mark 31. Threaded on the outermost reduced end of the shaft 12 is a ring 32 having a range elevation scale 33 graduated in hun- HTS.

dreds of mils and adapted to register against a mark 84. hen the hand wheel 29 is actuated until the required range on both scales 30 and 33 register with their corresponding marks, the index 7 will have been shifted with respect to the reference mark 8 fixed on the trunnion, an amount which indicates the desired elevation to be placed on the gun, since the index has been previously shifted an amount proportionate to angle of site.

Assuming now that the cradle trunnions are level, it will not be necessary to cross level the sight mount and the shaft 12 will be coaxial with the support shaft 5. Therefore, if the vertical reticule of the sighting instrument is directly on the target it will not be deflected when the support shaft is rotated through the angle corresponding to range elevation. However, should it be necessary to cross level the sight mount the shaft 12 will no longer be coaxial with the support shaft 5 and consequently when the range hand Wheel 29 is actuated to transmit the required displacement to the index 7 the sight mount will be constrained to revolve about the pivot of the worm wheel sector 18 as the range worm moves the sector 12. This will have the result of automatically deflecting the vertical reticule of the sighting instrument an amount in azimuth equal to the error in azimuth which results by reason of elevating the gun on an inclined plane. By traversing the carriage until the vertical reticule of the sighting instrument is restored to the target the gun will have been properly trained for firing. lWhile this is being carried out another gun server elevates the gun until the reference mark 8 of the trunnion coincides with the index 7 which has been given an angular position representing the total angle of elevation.

In the case of direct firing when the mounting has been displaced as a unit until the cross hairs of the sighting instrument are located on the target, the angle of site has been imparted to the index 7 but in the case of indirect firing Where an auxiliary aiming point is used the quadrant elevation may be given to the index through the range worm and hence the deflection in azimuth results during the total movement in elevation.

With the gun properly laid in azimuth and elevation to hit the target, the axis of cross level will be parallel to the bore of the gun. If after firing several shots one of the wheels subsides the entire piece will be lowered in that direction deflecting the gun from the target and decreasing elevation. The act of cross levelling the sight mounting for the purpose of regaining correct azimuth on relaying the gun will result in angularly displacing said axis and with it the support 5 and index 7 because the point of application of this adjustment through the worm 17 is no longer in the plane perpendicular to said axis. This displacement by reason of including the index 7 will necessitate re-alinement therewith of the mark 8 which operation will add an amount of elevation to the gun to compensate for the decrease resulting from subsidence of the wheel.

WVhile in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements, as constitute the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a referencennarkon oneofthe trunnions, a support shaft journaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a sight mounting including transverseand longitudiiial spirit levels jointed to the support shaft, the joint constituting the axis of cross level, a rocker journaled on the trunnion, actuating means therefor mounted on the gun carriage and adapted to effect displacement of the sight mounting and index, a worm wheel segment pivoted to the rocker, a worm therefor carried by the sight mounting whereby the mounting may be moved for cross leveling, and means carried by the sight mounting and operating through the axis of cross level to effect additional angular displacement of the index.

2. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a reference mark on one of the trunnions, a support shaft ournaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a sight mounting including transverse and longitudinal spirit levels jointed to the support shaft, the joint constituting the axis of cross level, means mounted to rotate about the trunnion, a pivotal connection carried by said means and geared to the sight mounting whereby the latter may be cross leveled and angularly displaced as an entity to shift the index, and means carried by the sight mounting for ef fecting additional displacement of the index through the joint of the support shaft.

3. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a reference mark on one of the trunnions, a support shaft ournaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a sight mounting including transverse and longitudinal spirit levels jointed to the support shaft, the joint constituting the axis of cross level, means for angularly displacing the sight mounting to shift the index, means cooperating with said means for cross leveling the mounting, and means carried by the sight mounting for cfllli fecting additional displacement of the index through the joint of the support shaft.

4. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a reference mark on one of the trunnions, a support shaft journaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a sight mounting including transverse and longitudinal spirit levels jointed to the support shaft, the joint constituting the axis of cross level, means for angularly displacing the sight mounting to shift the index, and means for independently displacing the support shaft to additionally shift the index.

5. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a reference mark on one of the trunnions, a support shaft journaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a shaft jointed to the support shaft, and constituting the axis of cross level, a sight mounting including a casing hubbed on said shaft, means carried by the casing to rotate the shafts relative to the mounting and shift the index, means for angularly displacing the sight mounting as a.

unit to shift the index, means carried by the casing and cooperating with said preceding means for cross leveling the sight mounting, and means for measuring the seperate angular displacements of the index.

6. In combination, a gun carriage, a cradle trunnioned in the carriage and having a reference mark on one of the trunnions, a support shaft journaled in the marked trunnion and having an index positioned to register with the reference mark, a shaft jointed to the support shaft, and constituting the axis of cross level, a sight mounting on said shaft, means carried by the casing to rotate the shafts and shift the index, means for angularly displacing the sight mounting as a unit to shift the index, and means cooperating with said preceding means for cross leveling the sight mounting.

7. A sighting system for guns embodying a sight mounting adapted to be cross leveled about an axis which is independent of the gun, actuating means for displacing the sight mounting through an angle corresponding to angle of site, a freely rotatable element supporting the sight mounting and having an index for registering the amount of said displacement with respect to a fixed mark on the gun, means carried by the sight mounting for displacing said index an amount corresponding to range elevation, and means for pivotally connecting the sight mounting to the actuating means whereby it will be revolved about a sensibly vertical axis to automatically compensate for errors in azimuth when range elevation is imparted to the index with the sight mounting out of axial alignment with the supporting element, said pivotal connection constituting an element whereby the sight mounting is cross leveled.

8. A sighting system for guns embodying a sight mounting adapted to be cross leveled about an axis which is independent of the gun, actuating means for displacing the sight mounting through an angle corresponding to angle of site, a freely rotatable element supporting the sight mounting and having an index for registering the amount of said displacement with respect to a fixed mark on the gun, means carried by the sight mounting for displacing said indexan amount corresponding to range elevation, and means for pivotally connecting the sight mounting to the actuating means whereby it will be revolved to automatically compensate for errors in azimuth when range elevation is imparted to the index with thesight mounting out of axial alignment with the supporting element.

9. A sighting system for guns embodying a freely rotatable support, a sight mounting jointed to the support, said joint constituting the axis of cross ley el means for cross leveling the m ineans ivliereliy tlie s ight mounting and support maybe angularly displaced through an angle correspondingto site, and means carried by the sight mounting for separately displacing the support an amount corresponding to range elevation so that the axis of cross level may indicate the desired elevation to be placed on a gun and the sight mounting be deflected in azimuth to compensate for the error in azimuth when elevating the gun on an inclined plane.

10. A sighting system for guns embodying a freely rotatable support, a sight mounting jointed to the support, said joint constituting the axis of cross level, means for cross leveling the mounting, means whereby the sight mounting and support may be angularly displaced through an angle corresponding to site, and means for separately displacing the support an amount corresponding to range elevation, these means so displacing the optical axis of the sight that the axis of cross level. will indicate the desired elevation of the gun corrected into the plane of actual elevation of the gun.

11. A sighting systemfor guns embodying a freely rotatable support, a sight mounting jointed to the support, said joint constituting the axis of cross level, means for cross leveling the mounting, means whereby the axis of cross level may be angularly displaced either through angle of site or range elevation or both, said means cooperating with the first mentioned means to indicate the desired corrected position of the gun.

12. A sighting system for guns embodying a freely rotatable support mountable on a gun, a sight mounting jointed to the support, said joint constituting the axis of cross level, means for cross leveling the mounting, and means whereby the axis of cross level may be as. "c. Hinze; was a mun/ma: a a. T? a angularly displaced, said means cooperating to so displace the optical axis of the sight as to cause the axis of cross level to be moved to a position to indicate the desired and cor- 5 rected position of the gun.

18. A sighting system for guns embodying a rotatable support, a sight mounting ointed to the support for movement about an axis normal to the support axis, means carried by the mounting for rotating the support to vary the elevation of said mounting axis, and cross levelling mechanism for moving said mounting about its axis whereby the sight line may be moved to correct for inclination of the gun trunnions.

14. The combination with a gun provided with a reference mark on its mount, of a sight mounting, an index on the sight mounting with which the mark may be brought into coincidence, means for setting in angle of site and range, said means moving an index with reference to the mark, means for moving the mounting in cross level, said means cooperating with the first mentioned means to move the index with reference to the mark whereby laying of the gun to bring the telescope on the target and the mark into coincidence with the index will introduce into the laying of the gun corrections to compensate 80 for inclination of the gun mount.

15. A sighting system for guns embodying a freely rotatable support, an inner casing jointed to said support, an outer casing fit ting on the inner casing, means carried by the outer casing for rotating the inner casing and the freely rotatable support, cross-leveling means for moving the outer and inner casing about the joint, said means including a pivotal support and means for constraining the pivotal support to movement in a fixed plane, and means acting on the cross-leveling means for rotating the freely rotatable support.

16. The combination with a gun and its 46 carriage provided with a reference mark of a sight mounting, an index on the sight mounting with which the mark may be brought in coincidence, means for moving the sight mounting in elevation, said means mov- 50 ing the index with reference to the mark, means for moving the mounting in cross-level thereby moving the index with reference to the mark whereby elevation of the gun to bring the mark into coincidence with the index will introduce into the elevation of the gun corrections to compensate for errors resulting from elevating on an inclined plane.

JAMES C. KARNES. 

